Feed water regulator



Dec. 26, 1933. v. v. VEENSCHOTEN FEED WATER REGULATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 30, 1931 3 v. v. VEENSCHOTEN 1,940,828

FEED WATER REGULATOR Filed Dec. 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 :"Wwv'd 114 390 83 "i 112 r I? 86 2 5 80 INVENTOR 1933. v. v. VEENSCHOTEN 1,940,828

FEED WATER REGULATOR Filed Dec. 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 451 152 [108 El I as A as so Patented Dec. 1933 I 1 r 1,940,828 FEED'WATER EGULATOR IVi11oent Veen'schoten, Eri'e, assignor to t ,I I I I 7 'NorthernEquipment Company, Erie, Pa.,'a I I corpoi'ation'of Pennsylvania j 3215Application December'30, 1931. 1 Serial N9. 583,913 II I I I 19 laims,(Gr m-.451) l I I This invention relates to feed water regulators,through "the pipe lotfrorn anysuitable source of the object oi which isto supply water to boilers supply under suitable pressure. The plunger81 and the like, in accordance with the rate of flow is operated, bysuitable operating means, so as of. the steam' from the boiler, andaccording to to supply Water to the boiler ordinarily at aratevariations in the boiler water level elevation and substantially equalto the rate of flow of steam-00 the flow of water itself. Anotherobject'is to from the boiler through the steam main 79.

provide various compensating means in order to The apparatusforlsupplying water at thisrate 'maintainthe water level substantiallyconstant is responsive to the rate of flowof ste'a'm' f-rom @or within.such limits as may be desired. The the boiler.

I Q invention contemplates the use of electric and I This apparatuscomprisesa pipe 84 which is 65- hydraulic means for controlling theflowof wadirectly or indirectly'connected to the steam LE ter to'theboiler, and one of the objects has been main'79 of the boiler. This pipeis connected to dispense not only with the ordinary thermoalso to acontainer 83- 'having a -chamber 78. In stator float means, but alsotofdispense with the the lower portion of the chamber is a, suitable useof levers or similarly moving parts, so as mass of mercury 77.' 'Inoperation the steam 70 to materiallyrdecrease the complications of thewill pass from the steam main into the pipe system. I I II 84 andcondense therein, so that the pipe will al- Of the accompanyingdrawings, Fig. 1' is a 2 ways be full ofwater which passes downwardlymore or less-diagrammatic sectional elevation of on the surface of themercury. This pressure is 2Q a boiler system and the means forregulating the increased by the steam pressure in the main, '75

30 with very',ma'terial and'sudden changes in load the steam.

flow or water thereto Fig. 2 showsdiag'rammatr and the steam pressure inthe main" varies with cally the electric system of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is athe variations in flow therethroughsectional elevation ,of a modifiedform of. the I The container 83 is connected by a pipe 109 feed waterregulator system; and Fig. 4 shows with a'container 30, in the lowerportion ofivihichj a further ,modification' of the systemi is'a massoimerc'ury 89.-- The upper portion of 'In the operationof vmany mode'rn'boilers, it this container is connected, by a pipe '76 'wi'th, isdesired to. operate the boiler system at' very the steam space oftheboiler. The vertical per high steam pressures, and often'atcapacities far tion of this pipe"also, when inoperation, will 1 beyondthe normal rated capacity,- and often always'be full of water whichcondenses from r or in fire intensity. In such cases, the control of Asa consequence 'of 'this arrangement, itjwill' the water level elevationin the boiler must be be seen that the mercurycolumns in the two vesaccording to the various needs and under very sels'83 and 80,togetherfwiththe pressures on the sensitivecontrol, so as to preventabnormally uppersurfaces' of themercurmfwillbalance each high or lowlevels, and in order to avoid flooding other." Hence, if the pressure ineither'vessel vaor emptying the boiler-inadvertently. For these ries,the relative mercurylevels will also vary purposes, the system which Iillustrate and deinelevation. When the steam' fiow in the boiler 1scribe herein is particularlyapplicable. I is uniform, the twomercurylevelswill assume With feed water systems; it is now customary, adefinite relation with reference to each other.

40 to have 'means responsive 'to the' variations in If, however, thesteanifiow is decreasedby clos I the steam flow from the boiler forcontrolling ing somewhatthe throttle valve to the turbine ,th'ejflowjofwater tO' the boiler; the aim being or other apparatus, the pressure 'int he pipe 179 ordinarily to maintain substantiallyequal "the willincrease with reference to the pressure" in mass of water and steamflowing into and from the boiler,.an d the mercury level in thecontainer 5 the boiler."v It has been common. in the past to 83 will beforced-downwardly, and this will force provide such water flow controlmeans by the use upwardly the mercury 'i n the container 80.

of thermostatic tubes, floats, or the like. In Mounted in thecontainensdare'electric con this case, I provide such means by the useoftafl em e s 90 a d 9 N rma ly, the cbntact mercury columns, withelectric means associat- 0 e s i the CI l Y and h 01 6 '50 ing themercury, columns with the feed water :91. is suspended above themercury. These con-- 1'05 valve operating mechanism. I Y I tactsare-insulated from the c ntain er'SO by in- The boiler 85 is suppliedwith water through sulating plugs 92, and they j are threaded into thesupply pipe 88, the flow being controlled by I these plugsso that thelower ends" of the conthe feed water valve .82 by means of the valvetacts can be raised or lowered tosuit the particuplunger 81. The supplyof water is vreceived lar needs. 'l hese contacts are suitablyconnectedwith an electric motor 93 which, by means of the screw 94 mounted on theshaft 95 of the motor, is adapted to operate a screw wheel 96. Thiswheel is rotatably mounted on the pedestal 97, and the stem 98 of theplunger 81 is threaded into the wheel so that, as the wheel rotates, theplunger is elevated-or lowered.

The electric current comes from the supply leads 105, Fig. 2, throughthe transformer 106, if necessary, to the lines 107 and 108. By suitable electric arrangements, as illustrated diagrammatically, when theload on the boiler is decreased, the increased pressure in the main 79forces the mercury 89 upwardly. As the mercury comes in contact with thecontact 91, an electric relay circuit is closed through the pipe 109,the

mercury 89, the contact 91, coil 100, and line 108. Coil 100, bysuitable means, closes the switch 101,

' thus closing the motor circuit from line 107 to the motor 98, fieldcoil 102, lower switch 103, switch 1 01, and line 108. The motor is thenoperated in the direction to close more the valve 82, so as to decreasethe flow of water to the boiler in accordance with the decreased flow ofsteam therelower portion andis connected by the pipe 109 with thecontainers 80 and 83.. The chamber 75 is also connected by a pipe87tothe water supply pipe 88. When the valve 82 is closed more by themotor, decreasing the flow of water therethrough, the water pressure inthe pipe 8 8'and, hence, in the pipe 87, will decrease and this willdecrease the pressure on the mercury 74 and allow the mercury 89to sinksomewhat and break the contact with the contact 91. If the varioussufiicient, will break the contact between the mercury 89 and thecontact 90. This will allow coil 104 to close switch 105 and the motorcircuit will be closed through switches 103 and 105 so as to operate themotor in the oppositev direction and open more the feed-water valve. 7

In the ordinary operation of a steam boiler of this nature, other meansare used to prevent abnormal variations in the water level elevation inthe boiler. Such means ordinarily are directly responsive to thevariations in the water level. The means which I havedescribed are alsoresponsive to such water level variations. While the elevation of themercury 74 is affected by variations in pressure in the pipe 88,- it isalso affected ,by variations in the water level elevation in the boiler.Any increase in the elevation of the water level will increase the backpressure in the pipe- 88 and, hence, in the pipe 87. As a consequence,the increase in pressure will tend to force the mercury 74 downwardly,irrespective of any change in opening of the valves 82. This will forceupwardly the mercury 89 and closethe mercury circuit through the contact91, thus closing more the valve 92 to compensate for the increased waterlevel in the boiler. 7

Although I have described herein means responsive to the variations inthe steam flow in the steam main for controlling the flow of water tothe boiler, yet it is to be understood that such means may be omittedfrom the system if desired. For instance, the container 83 and the 'pipe84 may be removed and the remaining apparatus will operate as anordinary feed water regulator system responsive to the variations inwater level in the boiler. In such a case, the motor will be controlledby the variations in water level, and the variations in pressure in thepipe 88 will act to open or close the motor circuit, so as to preventover-running of the valve under the operation of the water levelvariations. However, the variation in the water level itself produced bythe variation in the valve will break the motor circuit ordinarilybefore any abnormal changes in the water level occurs. This opera: tion,however, will lag behind the variation'in the feed water valvematerially. Hence, to avoid undesirable variations in water level, thecompensating means connecting the container 86 to the pipe 88 isdesirable. The pipe' 87 might be connected directly to the water spaceof the boiler instead of to the pipe 88 and, thus, obtain'the effect ofthe water level variations without'being affected by the water fiowvariations and, in

some cases, this may be desired. V

.However, as a margin of safety, I prefer to provide other means foropening themotor circuit to prevent serious over-running of the valveplunger. These means comprise the switches 103. The stem 98 passesupwardly into the casing and in this casing are mounted the switches103. U is a finger 111 which is adapted to open the upper switch 103when the plunger 81jhasbeen raised a predetermined amount, so as toavoid opening the valve sufficiently to flood thelboiler; jOr, as thevalve is closing, thefinger, is arranged to open the lower switch 103and to prevent entire clos= ing of the valve. .Obviously,themaximum'opening and closingof thevalve may, by these mea'ns bepredetermined asmay be desired; v

For practical reasons, I prefer to connect the containers by pipes73'controlle'd by valves 72.

Fixed to the stem in the casing This assistslin filling the containerswith water I when first starting up and prevents the possibility ofundesirable displacement of mercury in case the pressure in any of thelines is less than normal, Also, by placing a valve in the pipe 109between the containers 83andf86, thesystem may be operated without thesteam flow control. By closing this valve and the corre spending valve72, the system will be responsive to the water level and water flow,changes only.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of the feed water regulator system,in which the containers 80, 83 and .86 are used, together with, acontainer 112. The container 112 is connected by a pipe 113'to the waterspace of the boiler. The container 86, as before, is in communicationwith the pipe 88. But, in this instance, the container is r 115, whichis a continuation of the valve stem 1 as the valve is operated.

I steam pressure in the pipe tact with the contact '91 and stopthernot'or.

. 91,;the normal 7 By raising contact 91 or lowerihg -contact" 96,

as the valve-is closed or opened more. Also, in this instance, the valveplunger 116 is inverted withreference to the Valve plunger 81, so thatthe valve closes as it moves upwardlyinstea'delf-downwardly- [It willthus-be seen that this system difiers from the system of Fig. '1 in theinclusion of the container 112. This container, beingconnected to thewater space of the boiler, is directlyresponsive to the water levelchanges'in'the boiler.

' As has been hereinabove described, as the water level inthe boilertainer 112 will be forced downwardly and this, in turn, will forceupwardly the mercury .39 and will close the motor circuit through thecontact 91. The arrangement of thewindingof the motor, circuit in thiscase is such that,'in closing" this circuit, the motor will beoperatedto move the valve plunger 116 upwardly instead of down wardly when thewater level reaches apredetermined elevation; I j

The reason for moving the valve plunger 116 upwardly to close-the valveis'tofproperly operate thejdisplacement member 1 14. This member isintended to vary the elevation of the mercury '74 'Assuming that the '79isincreased, thus forcing downwardly the mercury 77 and forcingupwardlythe mercury'89, so as to close the'motor circuit" through thecontact 91, the motor will then operate 'thevalveplunger .so as to closemore the valve 82. This will move upwardly "the displacement member 114and allow-the mercury 74 to sink. But, this in turn will allow themercury 89 to sink somewhat and break the con- So that, in this case, Ihave providedthis additional compensating means for ning of theplunger'liG, It'will he understood, however, that the variations inpressure in'the outlet of the valve 82, which transmittedimmediatelyto"the'container'S6,-" will'hiave -the of 'fect of preventingover-running of the valve.

Also, the variation in water level elevation in the boiler willultimately have this eif ect; 'and the limit switches 163 may alsobeused with this system as withthe system 'oi -Figfl.

With this system,'it will be 'seen'that,by closing the valve 119 th' fsteam flow meansfare eliminated, and the system "is subject only to thewater level and water low variations. -*'Also,

by closing valve- 119. or 124),the container S3" orllZfwillbefeliminatedf' 'By'closingvalve 118, both will be eliminated.The system will .then

still be subject to was ever variations; but the water level effectwilljbe} decreased. a Q It'will be understood thatvarious"adjustmentsmay be madefl'j By elevating the contacts 99 and boiler waterlevelwil-lberaised.

' 'therange of levels will'ib'eincreased. By vary- .The modification ofFig. 4

.valve and the container iifi.

. pinion. 126,

ing the cross-section .of any ccntainer'or the mass 114, its effect willbe varied accordingly. Or, by" varying the openin'gof the valves-1180ilie, the lag in the effect of' the containers 112' or 83 may be variedaccordingly;

' somewhatsim ilar to Fig. 3, butin this ease the motor and operatingmechanism is a mounted between the This mechanism 125 arranged'tooperate a comprises the motor 127. The stem1 23 of thevalve plunger-3.29is threaded into the'gear wheel, and theplunger rises, the mercury inthe con-- pipe 131.

preventing over-rum and this in tum operates a gear wheel is operatedin' accordance with the variations in be similar to those illustrated'byFig. -2, and the limit switches 103 may be applied in a sim ilarmanner,I

In this case, the displacement member 114 is connected to the valvestem- 128, as in case-of Fig. 3, but the steinpasses through the smilingboxes 130 and 13-1; it beingunderstood that, with the motor operation,the" friction of 'the-stuffing boxes is notmaterially"objectionable...;The op eration of the motor is such; asincase of--Fig.:3, that the valve is closed-by moving upwardly, and theupward movement of 'the displacement' member 114 will allow the'mercuryin the vessel to movedownwardly and break the circuit which is closingthe valve. In this'case, the container sdiscon'nected to the waterspace'of the boilerby means of the Hence, the variations in. pressure inthe outlet of the feed water valve or the feed water pipe 88 have noeffect'on' the ,operation of the mechanism; :"r

I. claim as my, invention: 1. In a boilersystem having a a water supplypipe, a feed-water regulatorisyscomprising a valvemountedin -said,pipe,and means vfor varying the opening of said'valv'c, said means comprisinga first and a second closed container, each' container containing a massof mercury, -mean's providing communicationbetween thelower portions ofsaid containers, means providing communication between the upperportion'of said first 'container and'the steam space of the boiler ofsaid system, means providing communication between .the" upper==-portionof said second container. and-said: steam chain, and electric contactsmounted in sai'd first container one above and the other. below'fthenormal mercury level therein, said-contacts being operativelyassociatedwith saidvalve.

2. In aboiler'systemasicl'aimed in" claim 1, a third containercontaining mercury, the lower port'on of said .;hird -ccntainer being incoinm cation with said'firs't containerfand means providingcommunication between the upper steam main and portion of said thirdcontainer and said water 7 feed water regulator system;;.,

means comprising a first and a'second :closed container, each containercontaining amass of mercury, means providing communication between thelower portions of said containers, means providing communication betweenthe upper :por-' the steam space tion ofsaid first container and meansproviding of the boiler'of said system,

] communication betwe'enthe' upper portion of said second container andthe.

water space of-the boiler; electric contacts mountedin said first"container'one above and the other below the normal mercury leveltherein, said-contacts be ing operatively associated with said valve,and a displacement massmounted-in one of said containers and operativelyconnected with the plunger'of the valve. J

4. In a boilersystem as claimed-in claim 1, a third container containingmercury, the,.-;lower mar" munication between the upper portion. of saidthird container and said supply pipe, a fourth container containingmercury, the lower portion of said fourth container being incommunication with said first container, and means providingcommunication between the upper portion of said fourth container and thewater space of the boiler. I

5. In a boiler system as claimed in claim 1, a third containercontaining mercury, the lower portion of said third container being incommunication with said first container, and means providingcommunication between the upper portion of said third container and saidwater supply pipe, the mercury in said third container by virtue of saidlatter communication means being responsive to variations in the liquidpressure in said supply pipe, and a displacement mass mounted in saidthird container, said mass being operatively connected with the plungerof said valve. Y

6. In a boiler system as claimed in claim 1, a third containercontaining mercury, the lower portion of said third container being incommunication with said first container, and means providingcommunication between the upper portion of said third container and saidwater supply pipe, the mercury in said third container by virtue of saidlatter communication means being responsive to variations in the liquidpressure in said supply pipe, a displacement mass mounted in said thirdcontainer, said mass being operatively connected with the plunger ofsaid valve, and a fourth container containing mercury, the lower portionof said fourth container being in communication with said firstcontainer, and the upper portion of said fourth container being incommunication with the -water space ofthe boiler." Y s 7. In a boilersystem having a steam main and a water supply pipe, a feed waterregulator system comprising a valve mounted in said supply pipe, andmeans for varying the opening of said valve, said means comprising acontainer, mercury contained in said container, electric contact meansmounted adjacent the surface of said mercury, operative meansassociating said contacts with the said valve, and means responsive tothe variations in steam pressure in said main for varying the height ofsaid mercury in said container, and means responsive to the variationsin movement of the valve for varying the elevation of the mercury levelin said container.

8. In a boiler system havinga steam main and a water supply pipe, a feedwater regulator system comprising a valve mounted in said pipe, andmeans for varying the opening of said valve, said means comprising twocontainers, each container containing a mass of mercury, means providingcommunication between the lower pora water supply pipe, a feed waterregulator system comprising a valve mounted in said pipe, and

means for varying the opening of said valve, said means comprising twocontainers, each container containing a mass of mercury, means providingcommunicationbetween the lower portions of said containers, meansproviding communication between the upper portion of one container andthe steam space of the boiler of said system, means providingcommunication between the upper portion of the other container andsaidsupply pipe, and electric contacts mounted in one container one aboveand theother below the normal mercury level therein, said contacts beingoperatively associated with said valve.

10. In a boiler system having a steam main and a water supply pipe, afeed water regulator system comprising a valve mounted in said pipe,means for varying the opening of said valve, said means comprising twocontainers, each container containing a mass of mercury, means providingcommunication between the lower portions of said containers, meansproviding communication between the upper portion of one container andthe steam space of the boiler of said system, means providingcommunication between the upper portion of the other container and saidsupply pipe, and electric contacts mounted'in one container one aboveand the other .below the normalmercury level therein, said contactsbeing operatively associated with said valve, and a displacement massmounted in said othercontainer and operatively connected to said valve.

11. In a boiler system having a steam main and a water supply pipe, afeed water regulator system comprising a valve mounted in. said pipe,means for varying the opening of said valve, said means comprising twocontainers, each container containing a mass of mercury, means providingcommunication between the lower portions of said containers, meansproviding communication between the upper portion of. one container andthe steam space of the boiler of said system, means providingcommunication between the upper portion of the other container and saidsupply pipe, and electric contacts mounted in one container one aboveand the other below the normal mercury level therein, said contactsbeing operatively associated with said valve, and a displacement massmounted in said other container and operatively connected with saidvalve through said means, providing communication between the upperportion .of the latter container and the supply pipe.

12. Ina boiler system having a steam main and a water supply pipe, afeed water regulator system comprising a valve mounted insaid pipe,means for varying the opening of said valve, said means comprising twocontainers, each container containing a mass of mercury, means providingcommunication between the lower portions of sa d containers, meansproviding'communication between'the upper portion of one container and"the steam space of the boiler of said system, the other container beingconnected to the casing of said valve with a passageway providing communication between the latter container and the valve casing, and adisplacement mass mounted in said latter container and operativelyconnected through said passageway with said valve.

13. In a boiler system having a steam main and a water supply'pipe, afeed water regulator system comprising a valve mounted in said supplypipe, means for varying the opening of said valve, said means comprisinga container, mercury contained in said container, electric contact meansmounted adjacent the surface of said Amemv ylfi. In .a boiler systemhaving a steam main tacts with the said valve, and means responsive tothe steam and Water pressure in the boiler 'of said system "to themovement of said valve for varying the elevation of said mercury 14; aboiler system having a steam inain and a water su ply pipe, a feed waterregulator system comprising a valve mounted in'said sup- 1 means forvarying the opening of said valve, said mearis ecniprising a container,mercury contained iri saidcontainer, electric contact means mountedadiacent the surface of said mercury, operative maiisai-ssdciating saidcontacts with the said valve, and area-as responsive to the steam andwater pressure in the boiler of said system and to the steam pressuresaid for varying the elevation of said mercury ,surface.

' 15. In a means responsive to for .varying the elevation boiler systemas claimed in claim 14, the movement-of the valve of the surface of the'and aj vva ter supply pipe, a feed water regulator 7 system comprisinga valve mounted in said supply pipe, and means forvarying the opening ofsaid valve, said means comprising a container, mercury conta'ned in saidcontainer, electric contact means mounted adjacent the surface of saidmercury, operative means associating said contacts with the said val-ye,and means responsive to the steam pressure in tem and to the waterpressure in the supply pipe and to the movement of said vaive forvarying the elevation of said mercury surface.

' 17. In a boiler system having asteam main the boiler of the sysand awater supply pipe, a feed water regulator system comprisingavalvemountedin said'supply pipe, means for varying the opening of saidvalve, said means comprising a container, mercury contained in saidcontainer, electric contact means mounted jadjacent the surface of saidt acts with the said valve, and means responsive to the steam pressurein the boiler and'to the movement of said valve for varying theelevation of the surface of the mercury. T

-18; II i a boiler system having a steam main and awatersupply pipe, afeed water regulator system comprising a valve mounted in said supplypipe, means for varying the openingof said valve, said means comprisiriga containe'h, mercury contained infsaid container, electric conoperativemeans associating said contact means mounted adjacent the surface ofsaid mercury, operative means'associating said contacts with the saidvalve, and means responsive to the water pressure in the supply pipeand; also to the movement (if said valve for varying the elevation ofthe surface of the mercury.

19. In a boiler system having a steam main and a water supply pipe, afeed water regulator system comprising a valve mounted in said supplypipe, means valve, said means comprising a container, mer cury containedin said container, electric contact means mounted adjacent the surfaceof said mercury, operative means associating said contacts with the saidvalve, and means responsive to the steam and water pressure in theboiler of said system and to the water pressure insaid supply pipe forvarying the elevation of the surface of the mercury.

VINCENT "V. VEENSCHOTEN.

for varying the opening of said .fiao

